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USS Herring SS-233

The USS Herring was a United States Navy Gato-class submarine that was awarded five Battle Stars for her World War II service. At 312 feet long, she could carry a complement of 60 sailors and endure 48 hours at a depth of 300 feet (at 2 knots per hour), or 75 patrol days. Her top speeds could reach 21 knots per hour when surfaced and 9 when submerged, and her range was 11,000 nautical miles if surfaced at 10 knots. This was due to her propulsion equipment of 4 x 9-cylinder opposed piston diesel engines driving electrical generators, 2 x 126-cell batteries, 4 x high-speed electric motors with reduction gears, and two propellers. Herring's armament consisted of 10 x 21-inch torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, 1 x 3-inch/50 caliber deck gun, and four machine guns.

Ongoing Success and Accomplishments

Herring's keel was laid down by New Hampshire's Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in 1941, but she was not launched until 1942, the same year of her commissioning. Her initial trials and shakedown took place locally, and Herring set sail on her maiden voyage to the waters off the North African coast, to become readied for the invasion of North Africa known as Operation Torch. After arriving at her destination near Casablanca in early November, she was given an opportunity to use her skills almost immediately, and sunk the 5700-ton cargo ship Ville du Havre. Herring then embarked on war patrol, which was notable for her sinking of U-163 in March of 1943. Next directed to take part in an antisubmarine sweep off Iceland, Herring continued to conduct normal operations until returning to New England that summer. In August of 1943, she began another round of training and exercises at Pearl Harbor for three months. Once back in the war zone, she sunk Hakozaki Maru in December and Nagoya Maru on New Year's Day, 1944.

The Worst Possible Tragedy

The spring found Herring patrolling the area around Kurile Islands. She completed a rendezvous with sister ship USS Barb as planned; however, that was the last time anyone had contact with the USS Herring. Data retained by the Japanese government revealed that she had sunk Ishigaki and Hokuyo Maru on May 30th and 31st. (Ishigaki had previously sunk the USS S-44 on October 7, 1943.) Their records also indicated that Herring downed two other ships, Hiburi Maru and Iwaki Maru, while they were anchored at Matsuwa Island the next day. It is believed that enemy shore batteries counter-attacked and hit Herring with two strikes on her conning tower. Their crews witnessed bubbles in a space about 15 feet wide, and a sheet of oil that stretched for almost 15 miles. Additional findings showed that USS Herring had also sunk a Vichy cargo ship and a German U-boat before going down.

It's almost impossible to comprehend such a catastrophe. The five dozen sailors surely deserve the country's honor and respect in the sacrifice of their lives for their homeland. There had been other instances of crew members being rescued by the United State's lifeguard vessels, or picked up by the enemy and later returned. But knowing that no one from this ship managed to survive this attack is still painful, 60 years later. The entire country surely mourned with the crew's families and friends, as did the rest of the Navy, over such a horrible and unnecessary loss. USS Herring had been a stellar performer in every task given to her, and her crew ably displayed its training and skills at every opportunity. There was no record of collisions, mishaps, or any other accidents that may have been responsible for her disappearance, and neither were there reports of harsh weather conditions. It is therefore assumed that she was sunk by enemy attack in the midst of battle. It must have come as a surprise to all who knew her dedication and perseverance, and clearly proves the atrocities of war.

No sailor could enjoy the feeling of safety or security, whether in the line of fire or even going about standard operations. Life on military vessels was filled with risks of all kinds due to technical difficulties or even carelessness. One precaution the Navy must have been adamant about concerned the threat of fire, since being trapped onboard a ship, with limited escape and resources, would have posed grave danger. There was probably a good chance that asbestos was placed within a submarine, as it was a heat and fire retardant in weightless and flexible form. But these benefits may have been outweighed by the fact it could have escaped into a ship's air system. It is important that former sailors from all ships see their doctors at the first sign of unusual physical symptoms. They may have inhaled or swallowed tiny asbestos fibers which are still trapped in their bodies, possibly causing serious medical conditions or even malignancies. We should also be consulted for additional information regarding such possible asbestos exposure.

Submarines Index

USS Albacore SS 218 USS Amberjack SS 219 USS Angler SS 240 USS Apogon SS 308 USS Archer-Fish SS 311 USS Argonaut-SM-1 USS Argonaut SS 475 USS Aspro SS 309 USS Atule SS 403 USS Balao SS 285 USS Bang SS 385 USS Barbel SS 316 USS Barbero SS 317 USS Barb SS 220 USS Barracuda SS 163 USS Bashaw SS 241 USS Bergall SS 320 USS Besugo SS 321 USS Billfish SS 286 USS Blackfin SS 322 USS Blackfish SS 221 USS Blenny SS 324 USS Blower SS 325 USS Blueback SS 326 USS Bluefish SS 222 USS Bluegill SS 242 USS Boarfish SS 327 USS Bonefish SS 223 USS Bonita SS 165 USS Bowfin SS 287 USS Bream SS 243 USS Brill SS 330 USS Bugara SS 331 USS Bullhead SS 332 USS Bumper SS 333 USS Burrfish SS 312 USS Cabezon SS 334 USS Carbonero SS 337 USS Hake SS 256 USS Hammerhead SS 364 USS Harder SS 257 USS Hardhead SS 365 USS Hawkbill SS 366

USS Herring SS 233 USS Hoe SS 258 USS Icefish SS 367 USS Jack SS 259 USS Jallao SS 368 USS Kete S 369 USS Kingfish SS 234 USS Kraken SS 370 USS Lagarto SS 371 USS Lizardfish SS 373 USS Loggerhead SS 374 USS Macabi SS 375 USS Mackerel 204 USS Manta SS 299 USS Mapiro SS 376 USS Marlin SS 205 USS Mingo SS 261 USS Moray SS 300 USS Muskallunge SS 262 USS Narwhal SS 263 USS Nautilus SS 168 USS Paddle SS 167 USS Pampanito SS 383 USS Parche SS 384 USS Pargo SS 264 USS Perch SS 176 USS Permit SS 178 USS Peto SS 265 USS Pickerel SS 177 USS Picuda SS 382 USS Pike SS 173 USS Pilotfish SS 386 USS Pintado SS 387 USS Pipefish SS 388 USS Piranha SS 389 USS Plaice SS 390 USS Plunger SS 179 USS Pogy SS 266 USS Pollack SS 180 USS Pomfret SS 391 USS Pompano SS 181 USS Pompon SS 267 USS Porpoise SS 172

USS Puffer SS 268 USS Queenfish SS 393 USS Quillback SS 424 USS Rasher SS 269 USS Raton SS 270 USS Ray SS 271 USS Razorback SS 394 USS Redfin SS 272 USS Redfish SS 395 USS Robalo SS 273 USS Rock SS 274 USS Ronquil SS 396 USS Runner SS 275 USS Runner SS 476 USS S-1 SS 105 USS S-20 SS 125 USS S-46 SS 157 USS Sailfish SS 192 USS Salmon SS 182 USS Sand Lance SS 381 USS Sargo SS 188 USS Saury SS 189 USS Sawfish SS 276 USS Scabbardfish SS 397 USS Scamp SS 277 USS Scorpion SS 278 USS Sculpin SS 191 USS Sea Cat SS 399 USS Sea Devil SS 400 USS Sea Dog SS 401 USS Seadragon SS 194 USS Sea Fox SS 402 USS Seahorse SS 304 USS Sealion SS 195 USS Seal SS 183 USS Sea Owl SS 405 USS Sea Poacher SS 406 USS Searaven SS 196 USS Sea Robin SS 407 USS Seawolf SS 197 USS Segundo SS 398 USS Sennet SS 408

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